South East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Chichester
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Chichester does not currently operate a selective or additional licensing scheme. Here's the current position.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Chichester sets this fee under section 63(3) of the Housing Act 2004. Its current charge is not yet recorded here.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
Evidenced negative, council's own words (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council HMO page states "Chichester District Council does not run selective or additional licensing schemes." It adds "From 1 October 2018 any building with five or more unrelated occupants over any number of storeys requires a licence to operate as an HMO", tracking SI 2018/221 which removed the storeys criterion. This is the strongest class of evidence: an explicit denial on the council's own page.
Evidenced negative, council's own words (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the same sentence settles both flags - "Chichester District Council does not run selective or additional licensing schemes." Fee document "HMO Licensing Fees 2026-2027" is published on the page.
Common questions
Does Chichester have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Chichester does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Does Chichester have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Chichester does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Do I need an HMO licence in Chichester?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Chichester, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
All property licensing in South East →
Source: Chichester licensing page →
Every landlord in Chichester also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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